Xbox Series X - Timeline
YesterdayWed, 17th Apr 2024
Talking Point What Do You Want To See From Xbox's New 'Game Preservation' Team?
New features like FPS Boost? More back compat games? Tell us!
Earlier this month, we learnt via internal Microsoft emails that Xbox has recently set up a new team dedicated entirely to game preservation - building on its "strong history of delivering backwards compatibility" to players on its platform. While the leaked memo doesn't contain much...
News Xbox's Sea Of Thieves Reaches 40 Million Players Prior To PS5 Launch
"A truly extraordinary number"
Xbox and Rare's Sea Of Thieves is officially about to set sail on PS5 in just a couple of weeks' time, but before then, it's been announced today that the game has now surpassed 40 million players across Xbox consoles and PC. In a message on the Sea of Thieves website, Executive Producer Joe Neate thanked the game's...
News Pocketpair CEO On Devs Copying Palworld: 'These Are Incredible Times'
The Game Pass hit seems to be inspiring other devs
Ever since it burst onto the scene back in January, Palworld has been labelled a Pokémon clone of sorts - or at least something akin to 'Pokémon with guns' available on Xbox. However true that may be, Pocketpair's CEO has now claimed that its game is being copied, during "incredible times" for the
News Baldur's Gate 3 Sequel Being Planned, But Not From Larian Studios
The BG3 dev is stepping away from the series
It's no secret that Baldur's Gate 3 has been an absolutely smashing success for Larian Studios and IP-owner Hasbro, as the game has swept pretty much every awards show we can think of recently. Well, the owner wants to press on with more Baldur's Gate in the future for obvious reasons, but it'll have to...
News Orcs Must Die! 3 Is Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (April 17)
Your latest Game Pass title is here
Today's Xbox Game Pass drop is available now, with Microsoft bringing Robot Entertainment's Orcs Must Die! 3 to the library during a busy month for the service. So, we'll drop a quick introduction to this new Game Pass addition down below, alongside some handy links to what else is coming to Game Pass in April...
News XDefiant Server Test Session Now Available To Preload On Xbox Series X|S
Here's exactly when you can play
Following yesterday's report on XDefiant, Ubisoft has officially confirmed that the game's server stress test will take place on Xbox this weekend! The team's pre-release test starts at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST on Friday, April 19th. What's more, you can actually download the 'Server Test Session' file right now...
News New 3D Platformer 'Penny's Big Breakaway' Scores An Xbox Demo
Download it today
If you've been eager to try out the retro-inspired 3D platformer Penny's Big Breakaway on Xbox Series X|S, now is your chance. Publisher Private Division and developer Evening Star have released a new demo across all platforms including Microsoft's storefront, so you can download this trial now and see what it's like for yourself...
Tuesday16th Apr 2024
Guide Xbox Game Pass Core: Full List Of Games (April 2024 Update)
Here's everything you can play on Game Pass Core
Back in September 2023, Microsoft finally phased out Xbox Live Gold, replacing it with Xbox Game Pass Core as a new entry-level tier to its subscription service. Unlike Games with Gold, which has now been scrapped, Xbox Game Pass Core grants subscribers access to a select list of games separate to...
News It Takes Two's Developer Is Almost Ready To Reveal What's Next
"We got new (real good) stuff cooking..."
The amazing co-op adventure It Takes Two was undoubtedly one of our favourite games of 2021, and over the past few years, we've been patiently sitting and waiting to hear what might be coming next from Hazelight Studios. Fortunately, it sounds like we don't have long to wait! In a social media post...
News The Outlast Trials Gets Its First Update Since 2024 Xbox Launch
Be prepared for a Toxic Shock
The Outlast Trials seemed to get off to a pretty good start on Xbox last month, and now the team has revealed its very first update since that much-anticipated console launch. The game's 'Toxic Shock' event starts today, running through May 7th on all platforms - including Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. The update adds...
News Another Three Titles Are Joining Xbox Game Pass Core This April
And it's not a bad list!
Microsoft has today announced another selection of titles coming to Xbox Game Pass Core, the team's replacement for the now-defunct Xbox Live Gold service. In total, three games will join the smaller Game Pass Core collection on April 23rd, including the pictured Deep Rock Galactic and Bugbear's chaotic racer Wreckfest...
News Six Games Will Leave Xbox Game Pass In Late April 2024
The latest group of leavers
The second batch of games leaving Xbox Game Pass in April 2024 has been revealed today, and in total we have six games leaving the library - including one EA Play title. Here's the full list of titles leaving Xbox Game Pass on April 30, 2024: Xbox Game Pass: Leaving Soon (April 30, 2024): Date Game Platform April...
News These Six Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass (April 17-30)
The latest official roundup of new titles
Microsoft has announced the latest batch of Xbox Game Pass titles for April 2024, which includes the previously confirmed Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes and Another Crab's Treasure, along with some surprises! Don'
News Xbox's Towerborne Beta Is Opening Up To More Players Ahead Of 2024 Launch
"Sign up thru the Insider Program today"
Xbox Game Studios' Towerborne first opened up pre-release playtesting last year, and now the team has announced another expansion to its Insider Program. Developer Stoic will be "opening the doors" to more players "very soon" as the team continues to build towards the game's full launch. At the moment we...
News This Week's Xbox Deals Include A Huge Discount For 2022's Saints Row
Time to pull the trigger?
We're now entering the final couple of days of the Xbox Spring Sale 2024, but Microsoft has also added just over 100 games to the list of Xbox deals for the next week, with most of them being exclusive to Xbox Game Pass members. Interestingly, 2022's failed Saints Row reboot has dropped to a very low price in the process,...
News Ubisoft's XDefiant Server Test Will Apparently Take Place This Weekend On Xbox
Reportedly starting April 19
Months and months after the game's last pre-release test, Ubisoft is apparently very close to unleashing XDefiant's latest stress test on Xbox Series X|S. According to a new report from Insider Gaming, the team is targeting an April 19th date for its 12-hour serve
News Two Additions Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (April 16)
Including another day one release
We have a couple of fresh additions on Xbox Game Pass today, April 16th! Obsidian is bringing its 'Fully Yoked Edition' of Grounded to the library today, while new day-one title Harold Halibut is also available on the service. Here's a bit more information on today's new Xbox Game Pass additions: Grounded: Fully...
News Palworld Update 0.2.2.0 Coming To Xbox Soon, Here's What's Included
"Major fixes" and more
Pocketpair is still rolling out regular updates for its smash hit release Palworld and this includes a new patch for Xbox Series X|S, bumping the game up to Version 0.2.2.0. This latest update, which will be released when its ready, comes with "major fixes" and various other fixes. Here's the full rundown of what to expect...
Monday15th Apr 2024
News Microsoft Rewards Fans Are Preparing For A New Era On Xbox This Week
Which sadly means the end of another one
In case you missed it, Microsoft Rewards is undergoing a transformation on Xbox right now. We've started to see a few new offers entering the Xbox Rewards Hub recently, but sadly there are some downsides to report as well. The big one is that the old Microsoft Rewards Xbox app is shutting down very soon. Its...
News 'PERISH' Marks The Launch Of New Hellish FPS On Xbox Series X|S
Lowkey slaying
So, during our weekend release roundup we detailed a new Xbox FPS called PERISH that looked pretty darn fun, and well, HandyGames' shooter is officially out now on console after a year or so on Steam. That Steam release has brought in a 'Mostly Positive' rating so far, so we're keen to see how this indie shooter lands with an Xbox...
Guide Harold Halibut: Release Date & Release Times On Xbox Game Pass
The latest day one release on XGP!
We've got another day one Xbox Game Pass release kicking off the week in the form of Harold Halibut this Tuesday, and this one's particularly interesting as it features a stop-motion visual style using handcrafted models! The first reviews have dropped today, including here at Pure Xbox where we gave Harold...
Hands On Sker Ritual - A Zombie-Filled Ceremony That Struggles To Satisfy
Skert around it, for now
The team behind 2020's story-based horror title Maid of Sker is back this year with an FPS spin-off - one that takes shape as a wave-based shooter not too dissimilar to Call of Duty's Zombies mode. Wales Interactive sticks to CoD's blueprint quite closely here, and while the concept is sound and the game does what it says on...
News Ori Dev's 'No Rest For The Wicked' Re-Confirmed For Xbox, PC Early Access Starts This Week
No restin' for this lot
Ori developer Moon Studios has just dropped its latest trailer for No Rest for the Wicked; the team's upcoming action RPG coming to Steam Early Access this week. That Early Access date is confirmed for April 18th, while the studio has also taken the opportunity to remind us that an Xbox Series X|S version is still in the...
Review Harold Halibut (Xbox) - A Heartfelt & Handcrafted Narrative Adventure
For the love of bluglglgl
German developer Slow Bros has certainly lived up to their name: it’s been fourteen years since they gathered for dinner and serendipitously decided to make a game! Despite lacking the technical knowledge to actually make one, they set out to create a cinematic narrative adventure. Well, where most saw barriers, Slow Bros...
News Alone In The Dark Performance Impresses Digital Foundry, Despite 'Sacrifices' On Xbox Series S
Performance mode looks like the way to go
It's been the best part of a month since THQ Nordic brought the Alone in the Dark series back into the limelight, and despite a middling critical reception, Digital Foundry is fairly impressed with the tech behind title - especially when it comes to console performance. In a new
News Hypercharge: Unboxed Dev Finally Teases New Xbox Release Date
"Something BIG is coming"
Back in 2022, the dev team behind toy soldier-shooter Hypercharge: Unboxed began heavily teasing an Xbox release for its PC title, and after a chunk of time and numerous internal delays, they're back at it again with a fresh Xbox tease. Taking to Twitter this weekend, developer Digital Cybercherries says that "something...
Saturday13th Apr 2024
Talking Point Almost A Year On, What Do You Think Of The Current Xbox Dashboard?
The new version made its debut last July
It was all the way back in September of 2022 that Team Xbox first unveiled a new dashboard interface that would be tested by Insiders over the next year, with the intention of incorporating feedback into the final, public version. The feedback was mixed to say the least, with concerns around backgrounds...
News Two Games Are Confirmed For Xbox Game Pass In May 2024 So Far
An early look at what's ahead
Update: Well, it turns out there's actually two! Indie adventure Hauntii has sneaked into the lineup for May 2024 as well, and obviously we'll have more joining the list as we get closer to May. Stay tuned! <related ids="161857"> Original story: It's always around this time of the month that we take a look at...
Feature These 10+ Games Are Coming To Xbox Next Week (April 15-19)
Including another day one Game Pass release
Welcome to your Xbox games roundup for April 15-19! It's looking like a pretty quiet few days ahead for Xbox releases, but we've still got the likes of Sker Ritual on the way, along with the day one Xbox Game Pass title Harold Halibut! Here's what's coming to Xbox next week: New Xbox Releases (April...
News Kingdom Come: Deliverance Dev Warhorse Gearing Up For 'New Game Reveal'
All will be revealed next week
The Czech video game developer Warhorse Studios has been busy working on Kingdom Come: Deliverance since 2018 and in the latest update, it seems the team is finally ready to unveil its next project. If you are wondering exactly what the big reveal might be, according to Insider Gaming's Tom Henderson, it's supposedly...
